Striker goes to work early on Sandman's knee. Striker misses an elbow off the second rope and the two battle in the corner for the cane. Sandman gets heaved to the mat and Striker gets Sandman's
weapon. He nails Sandman with it twice, but misses a haymaker and Sandman ends up with the stick. Sandman cracks Striker several times, making the former school teacher juice. Striker sees his own blood and scampers to the back. Countout?

Winner: The Sandman

More hype for The Marine is shown. Yes, MORE hype for what critics (not WWE.com) call a so-so flick, like the Toronto Sun (Marine blows up real bad). I haven't seen it. Maybe I'll wait for the dollar show.

Match # 2 -- C.M. Punk vs. Renee Dupree

Not quite a squash, but Punk wins with his usual moves, ending with the Yuranagi and Anaconda Vice submission.

Winner via submission: C.M. Punk

Mike Knox tries to jump Punk from behind, but hightails it to the back. Punk wants Knox in the ring, but the very ugly Knox (anyone else think so?) lives to fight another day.

New "ECW correspondent" Rebecca Dipietro, a 2006 Diva Search finalist, interviews Rob Van Dam in the back. RVD hypes his match later on with ECW champ The Big Show
and says it's his last chance to get a shot at the title. RVD says he'll slay the dragon. Good stuff here.

Test then comes to the ring and calls himself the Impact Player and also uses the word "ruthless" about 143 times. He challenges Hardcore Holly, but Balls Mahoney comes down instead and challenges Test, who says he'll fight Balls another day. Balls doesn't like the sound of that and attacks Test.

Match # 3 -- Balls Mahoney vs. Test

Referee Mickey Henson hits the ring and calls for the bell. Test works on Mahoney's left shoulder and hits a nifty
Stunner-like move on it. Balls nails his customary spinebuster for a near fall. Just once can Balls win with that move? Put him in there with Danny Doring or something, eh Vince? Test nails a big boot and then the spinning neckbreaker for the duke.

Winner via pinfall: Test

Match # 4 -- Sabu vs. "The Reject" Shannon Moore

Sabu goes for the camel clutch just seconds in, but Moore gets to the ropes. Moore hits
a nice springboard moonsault for two, but misses a corkscrew moonsault from the top. Sabu capitalizes with a leg drop from the outside in and gets three.

Winner via pinfall: Sabu

Dipietro is now backstage with Show, who calls her a "cute little thing." Show says that if RVD beats him tonight, he'll give him one last shot at ECW gold. He calls himself the Champion of Champions and tells Dipietro, "See ya later good lookin.'" Again, great stuff here, folks.

Good Lord. More Marine publicity. This time it focuses on the visual effects
and the 292 explosions in the movie.

Match # 5 -- Non-Title Match -- Rob Van Dam vs. The Big Show

RVD kicks and punches the life out of Show early, but gets caught and pitched to the outside. Cue commercial break.

Back and forth for a bit until Van Dam hits his kick from the top rope and then a solid Rolling Thunder. Show crunches the ref in the corner and Van Dam takes Show down and goes up top for the Five Star Frog Splash. Test rushes down and pushes RVD off and grabs a chair. But Holly comes in from behind on Test, takes the chair and clocks Test
and Big Show twice. Show is down, RVD nails the Five Star and the ref awakens to count the fall.

Winner via pinfall: Rob Van Dam

Nice solid card tonight. I didn't even peek at any other websites to get the results or to find out why Moore keeps jobbing. I'm old school; I want surprises, dammit.